2025-2026 DWU: High School Engineering Challenge

2025-2026 DWU: High School Engineering Challenge

Challenge Materials

Challenge Materials

The 2025 Challenge Materials are coming soon. Register now to get copies as soon as they are released.

1. Detailed Background Document

Overview: What is an Uncrewed Aircraft System?

An uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) can be defined as an aircraft without an operator or flight crew onboard the aircraft itself. UAS are remotely controlled using manual flight controls (i.e., teleoperation) or autonomously operated using uploaded control parameters (e.g., waypoints, altitude hold, or minimum/maximum airspeed for example).

UAS are typically used to perform a variety of tasks or applications that are considered too dull, dangerous, dirty, or deep for humans or crewed platforms (also known as the "4Ds"). Their civilian/commercial uses include aerial photography/filming, agriculture, communications, conservation/wildlife monitoring, damage assessment/infrastructure inspection, fire services and forestry support, law enforcement/security, search and rescue, weather monitoring and research. They provide an option that is economical and expedient, without putting a human operator (i.e., pilot) at risk.

UAS are commonly referred to as uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV)s, uncrewed aerospace, aircraft or aerial systems, remotely pilot aircraft (RPA), remotely piloted research vehicles (RPRV), and aerial target drones. However, the term UAS itself is reflective of a system as a whole, which has constituent components or elements that work together to achieve an objective or set of objectives. These major elements, depicted in Figure 1, include the air vehicle element, payload, data-link (communications), command and control (C2), support equipment, and the operator (human element).

The UAS you will develop in this challenge is comprised of similar elements, or parts of the system.

NOTE: For purposes of component categorization and functionality simplification, the datalink/communications and command and control (C2) have been combined into a single element (i.e., command, control, and communications [C3]). Each team will choose different quantities, sizes, types, and configurations of the various components to create a unique UAS design using the approach depicted in Figure 2.

Also of note is pointing out that your team will develop the entire system and not just the uncrewed vehicle.

Payload Element(s)

The payload represents the first element to be examined in the design of a UAS. This traditionally represents the primary purpose of the platform. One example of a payload is the visual/exteroceptive sensor(s), explained in further detail below. These sensors capture information about the operating environment. This information can be used to provide situational awareness relative to the orientation and location of the aerial vehicle.

Visual/exteroceptive sensors - used to capture information (e.g., visual data) about the operating environment. Provides the operator with situational awareness, such as the orientation and location of the aerial vehicle element of a UAS. Common sensors include:

• CCD/CMOS camera (e.g., Daytime TV, color video) - digital imaging sensor, typically returns color video for live display on the ground control station (GCS) terminal.
• Thermal (e.g., infrared [IR]) - sensor used to measure and image heat (i.e., thermal radiation).
• LiDAR - measures distance and contours of remote bodies (e.g., terrain) through use of reflected laser light. Typically requires significant amount of pre- or post-processing to render and display the data.
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) - measures distance and contours of remote bodies (e.g., terrain) through use of reflected radio waves. Typically requires significant amount of pre- or post-processing to render and display the data.
• Multispectral camera - an all-encompassing visual sensor for capturing image data across the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., thermal, radar, etc.).

Air Vehicle Element

The air vehicle element (i.e., UAV) represents the remotely operated (uncrewed) aerial component of the UAS. There can be more than one UAV in a UAS, and each is made up of of several subsystem components, including the following:

• Airframe -the structural aspect of the vehicle. The placement/location of major components on the airframe, including payload, powerplant, fuel source, and command, control, and communications (C3) equipment, will be determined by your team. This element can be purchased as a commercially-off-the-shelf (COTS) option or custom designed.
• Flight Controls - the flight computer (e.g., servo controller), actuators, and control surfaces of the air vehicle.
• Powerplant (propulsion) - the thrust generating mechanism, including the engine/motor, propeller/rotor/impeller, and fuel source (e.g., battery or internal combustion fuel)
• Sensors (onboard) - the data measurement and capture devices

NOTE: These subsystem components could be purchased as a single commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) option, could be modified/supplemented using other options, or entirely custom designed.

Command, Control, and Communications (C3) Element

The level of autonomy of an aircraft is determined by the capabilities of the Command Control and Communications (C3) system.

C3 represents how your team will get data to (e.g., control commands) and from (e.g., telemetry and onboard sensor video) the vehicle (or any additional uncrewed/robotic systems) while in operation. Your configuration will depend on the design choices made by your team. Some of these items will be included in the weight and balance calculations for the Air Vehicle Element (i.e., airborne elements), while the remaining will be included in the ground control station (GCS). The following image (Figure 3), depicts an example C3 interface overview of a medium complexity UAS.

Primary C3 element subsystem components include:

• Control commands and telemetry equipment - the capture, processing, transmission, receipt, execution, and display of all data associated with control and feedback of the air vehicle element. The following represent the types of controls. Manual - operator performs remote control of the UAV.
• Semi-autonomous - operator performs some of the remote control of the UAV, system performs the rest (pre-determined prior to flight).
• Autonomous - operator supervises system control of the UAV (pre-determined prior to flight and uploaded during flight).
• Control switching - use of a multiplexer device provides a method to switch between different control methods (e.g., switch between manual and autonomous control).
• Primary video data equipment (non-payload) - the capture, transmission, receipt, and display of visual data from the primary video sensor (non-payload), if applicable.

NOTE: Primary video is typically used to operate the aircraft from an egocentric (i.e., first person view [FPV]) perspective

• Remote sensing (primary payload sensor) equipment - the capture, storage or transmission and display of data from the primary payload sensor.

Additional details concerning this element can be found in the UAS Command, Control, and Communications (C3) section.

Support Equipment Element

Support equipment represents those additional items required to assist in UAS operation and maintenance in the field. These can include but are not limited to the following:

• Launch and recovery systems - components used to support the UAV to transition into flight or return the aircraft safely.
• Flight line equipment - components used to start, align, calibrate, or maintain the UAS. Refueling/recharging system
• Internal combustion engine starter
• Transportation - used to deliver equipment to the operating environment.
• Power generation - portable system capable of producing sufficient power to run the GCS and any additional support equipment; typically internal combustion using gasoline.
• Operational enclosure - portable work area for the crew, computers, and other support gear.

Operator Element

The operator element represents the people required to operate and maintain the system. These roles will be dependent on the design of the system. These can include but are not limited to the following:

• Pilot in command (PIC)
• Secondary operator (co-pilot or spotter)
• Payload/sensor operator
• Sensor data post-processer specialist
• Support/maintenance personnel

NOTE: You will identify your crew based on your UAS design according to the provided mission requirements. For example, if the payload is configured to automatically detect over specific areas identified using GPS, a specific operator may not be necessary. However, the appropriate system design would need to be established to support such operations.

The details concerning this element can be found in the UAS Personnel/Labor Guidelines section of this document.

Challenge Details

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) have near-term potential for many civil and commercial uses. The 2025-2026 Dream with Us Design Challenge will focus on Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and implementing UAS into the agriculture industry. This year's mission is to develop an uncrewed aircraft system that will detect agricultural pests that affect your team's geographical area and make a detrimental economic impact, and identify suspected affected areas and take plant samples in order to more effectively optimize crop production. The teams will identify, compare, analyze, demonstrate, and defend the most appropriate component combinations, system/subsystem design, operational methods. Engineering Technology concepts will apply to this challenge, including the application of science and engineering to support product improvement, industrial processes, and operational functions. In addition, a business case and a communications plan will be included to better support the challenge scenario. Through use of an inquiry-based learning approach with mentoring and coaching, student teams will have an opportunity to learn and apply the skills and general principles associated with the challenge in a highly interactive and experiential setting. Students will need to consider and demonstrate an understanding of the various Uncrewed Aircraft System elemental (subsystem) interactions, dependencies, and limitations (e.g., power available, duration, range of communications, functional achievement) as they relate to the operation, maintenance, and development to justify their proposed business case.

To support the inquiry-based learning approach, each team will perform and document the following in an engineering design notebook:

1) Task Analysis – analyze the mission/task to be performed

2) Strategy and Design – determine the engineering design process, roles, theory of operation, design requirements, system design, integration testing, and design updates

3) Costs – calculate costs and the anticipated capabilities associated with both design and operation

Teams will work together with coaches and mentors to identify what is needed while pursuing the completion of this challenge. By connecting your own experience and interest, participants will have an opportunity to gain further insight into the application of design concepts, better understand the application of Uncrewed Aircraft System technology, and work collaboratively towards the completion of a common goal.

Challenge

This year's challenge is to design Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), create a theory of operation, and develop a business and communication plan for the system based on the following scenario:

Scenario:

Agricultural pests cost billions of dollars in losses across the globe every year. Besides losses through yield reductions and reduced quality, there are also the costs of using pesticides or other methods to mitigate the pests, particularly if pesticides are being used indiscriminately rather than strategically. The strategic use of uncrewed aircraft is making significant impacts in reducing the impact of agricultural pests. Properly implemented, agricultural output can be increased while also reducing resource use. In addition to food crops, pests can also have a large impact on other agricultural products such as trees.

Your state government is interested in developing an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) that can help in the fight against an agricultural pest that has an economic impact in your state. The state government wants a UAS that can be used to detect signs of the pest(s), identify plants that have been potentially impacted by these pests, and also take samples from the infected plant(s). Your company has been asked to design a UAS that will be tested locally within the state to determine its feasibility and potential economic impact.

Your company will select the specific pest(s) based on your local region. This pest selection and corresponding impacted plant(s) will determine many of the UAS design choices. The state government agency in charge of the program has created a set of design criteria outlined below.

Overall Design: